Rail-smoothing machine



J. G. MCVHCHAEL. RAIL SMOOTHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1919.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

5 SHEETS--SHEET l.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I8, I9I9.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

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. EN WN s 1. II. I NWIINHINII IHIII c I- IIII I I' r II -I .mIII III I r I o. 1MM. .umuwmmudmn| .uw Nm vh n MN NN mw w k l I IIII LI I ||nu| Iv n I |||Mr|I mm I IIIltII I II I I nIrILII 1. n e. Munn I I n Wmo III A TTORNEI" J. G. MCMICHAEL. RAIL SMOOTHING MACHINE. APPLICATION msn JAN.18, |919.

Patented Nov, 16, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. G. MCMICHAEL.

RAIL SMOOTHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IAN. Is, I9I9. 1,358,766.

Patented N 0V. 16, 1920.

5 SHEET-S-SHEET 4.

l .II/wrak I fro/NE I J. G. II/IcIVIICHAEL. RAIL SMOOTHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I8, I9I9.

PATENT oFFlc-E.

JAMES Gl. MCMICHAEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-SMOOTHING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentedv NOV. 16, 1920.

Application led January 18, 1919. Serial No. 271,785.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I,JAMEs G. McMroHAEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Smoothing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rail smoothing machines or lreciprocating grinders for resurfacing railway rails. *3 V One of the objects of my invention is t0 provide a machine which will grind oif the inequalities or uneven surfaces in the tread portions of the rails of railway and Street car tracks. l

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine which can conveniently 'be used for surfacing either or both rails at one and the same time.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of the machine, asan attachment to a self-propelled vehicle, whereby the entirev vehicle and grinding `attachment are bodily Vlnovable along the track to any eX- tent, in performing the grinding operation, and which maybe reversed in direction of its progress and thus be moved back over the same section of track, back and fort any desired number of times.

grinding attachment is especially adaptable for attachment to a relatively small automobile, such for example, as a Ford car, and the arrangement is such that the attaching device may be lifted, so as to completely clear all obstructions on any roadway, over which the vehicle may be passing, and provided. with convenient means for lowering or depressing the abrad ing blocks on either or both sides, into contact with the respective rails, or either 0f them, when the vehicle -is being moved along the rails. l

These operations may quickly and easily be performed and the entire vehicle may, by

its own power, be made to clear the track to permit a passing car, or train, to use the track upon which the machine has been working, with the utmost celerity, without delaying the passing car or train.

When the abradin blocks are lifted, so that they will clear t e track or other roadway, over which thesvehicle maybe passing, the entire weight of the vehicle is carried on the ordinary traction wheels of the vehicle and it may be propelled over any sort of roadway to or from an objective ypoint on.v

the track, or the vehicle may be'propelled alongthe track from point to point, without lowering the abrading blocks into contact with the rails and thus a portion of the track may be properly surfaced, and after` being finished, the vehicle may be quickly propelled by its own power to another point of defective track rails, and by this means a very large extent of work may be quickly and easily accomplished with the minimum labor and within the shortest possible time.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a -side elevation'of the attachment, shown in full lines, and showing a part of the automobile chassis in dotted lines, and also indicating the 'abrading blocks in contact with the rails over which the vehicle is placed. l

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the attachment, shown in full lines, and showing the chassis of the vehicle in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the apparatus. l

F ig.' 4 is an enlarged side elevation of they grinding mechanism showing the abrading blocks lifted free from the track.

Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of the mechanism for lifting the guide wheels free from the track. A

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a light flange wheel that may be substituted for the ordinary pneumatic tired wheels of the automobile upon which the surfacer is employed, should such use become necessary.

Fig. l() is a central diametric section of the same.

l In all the views the same referencecharacters are employed toV indicate similar parts.

f. 15 and 16 represent the side frame members of a chassis of an automobile, showing the rear axle 17; the differential 4gear casing 18, and the rear, ordinary, inflated-tire traction wheels, 19 and 20. The front traction wheels 21 and 22, are shown in the position which they occupy, respectively, but for the sake of clearness, the entire front axle and controlling mechanism is not shown fin connection with this apparatus. The grinding attachmentv frame, consisting of the side members 23 and 24, somewhat longer and wider than the chassis of the ordinary automobile, is provided with cross sills 25 and 26 and such other cross sills as may be required. The front ends of the side frame members 23 and \24 carry bearings 27 and 28 for the axle' 29, upon which is fixed the usual flanged wheels 30 and 31 for running along the track or rails 32 and 33 and guiding the machine. Y

The rear ends of these members are provided with boxes 34 and 35 for the axle 36 and the flange guide wheels 37 and 38.

The frame members 23 and 24 of the grinding'attachment are very close to thel rails 32 and 33 and are substantially parallel therewith and are vertically movable to raise the guide wheels from the track. On the side of each of the members, 23 and 24,is a bracket 39 and spaced apart and rearwardly of this bracket is another bracket 40, both of which extend outwardly from the ,frame members. A vertically movable frame consisting of the side members 41 and 42 slides in the outer ends of the fixed brackets 39 and 40, as clearly shown in F ig. 8. The side members 41 and 42 are slotted at intervals, as at 43, to permit the bolts 44 to pass through the abrading blocks 45 into the opposite Iside member, to hold the blocks in contact therewith. The slots are provided for the purpose of permitting the abra'ding blocks 45 to be moved downwardly as they wear off, and the nuts on the bolts 44 are tightened to hold the blocks in adjusted po- ,sition. The frame, consisting of the members 41 and 42 contains the entire series of blocks, which may be four or five feet long, if desired'.

Secured to the outwardly extendin brackets 39 and 40 are vertical posts 47 an 48, respectively, for supporting a horizontal Stringer, or frame 'member 49. There are two of the horizontal main frame members 49 and 49, on each side, substantially parallel, and' which are located at a higher altitude than the horizontal vertically movable frame members 32 and 33. Cross members 50 and 5l extend from the horizontal frame members, referred to, and rest upon the frame members 15 and 16 of the automobile chassis, being fixed thereto in any suitable manner, such as by rivets or screw bolts 52. l As heretofore stated, there is an abrading member for each of the roadway rails, substantially as described, one on each side of the grinding attachment and each of the members is ladapted to lbe independently raised and lowered by means of a lever 60. The lever 60 is pivotally supported on. shaft 6l that finds bearingsY in standards 62 and 63. These standards' are secured to the frame members 49, 49', as by bolts 64. A segmental frame 65 is secured tothe 4frame members 49, 49 and is provided with spacedapart notches 66 for a latch 67, operated by a hand lever 68, to hold the controlling lever 60 in selected position, and operable through the .instrumentality of the lever 68, rod 69 and the spring 70. The lower end 71, of the lever 60, is pivoted to links 72, of which there are two, and which are connected to a bellcrank lever 73, as at 74, the bell-crank lever being pivoted, as at 75, to a fitting supported on the horizontal frame members, 49, 49. The outer arm 76 of the bell-crank` lever, is pivoted to the link 77, that in turn are pivoted tolugs 78, as at 79, of the frame, composed of side members 41 and 42, for lifting the abrading block 45 and the frame carrying them substantially as shown in Fig. 4. Another lbell crank lever 80 is pivoted in thesame manner, as at 81a, and its vertical arm 82is pivoted to a pairof links 83, the other ends of which are pivoted, as at 84, to the lever 60. The horizontal arm 85 of the bell crank lever 80 is pivoted to a pair of links 86 and they are pivoted to an upstanding lug 87 on the frame in a similar manner as described, with reference to the bell-crank lever 73. When the lever 60 is in vertical position, substantially as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, the abrading blocks 45 are raised free of the track and when the lever 60 is pushed toa position shown in dotted llnes, then the abradning blocks are forced into contact with the underlyingrails.

. The lever 60, of which there is one on each side of the grinding attachment, is employed for raising and loweringthe respective frames containing the abrading blocks, but neither of these levers have 'any effect upon liftingthe side frame members 23 and 24, and the attached guide wheels 30, 31, 37

and 38. The means for lifting this portion of the structure is clearly shown in Fig. 5. This consists of a sub-frame member 90, substantially parallel with the frame member 49 and suitably secured thereto and pro'- vided with downwardly extendin brackets 91 and '.92 at each end thereof. ivoted in the bracket 91 is a bell crank lever 93, as at 94, having a downwardly extending arm 95 `which carries a pair of links 96 that are pivoted to a standard 97, supported on the side frame member 33. The upper arm 98 of the bell crank lever 93 is pivoted to a horizontal connecting bar 99, which in turn is pivoted to the upper arm 100 of the bell-crank lever 101, as at 102. The bell-crank 101 is secured. to a shaft 103 that finds bearing in the lower end of the bracket '92. The lower arm 104 of the bell-crank lever 101 is pivoted to a pair of vertically extending links 105, which in turn are pivoted at their lower ends, as at 106, to a standard 107 which is secured to the rear end of the horizontal frame member an ordinary roadway and the vehicle, when the attachment is in this condition, mayvalso be quickly moved from the track or' moved onto it, tov avoid a passing car or to be replaced in working position,after the car has passed, or to be propelled along an ordinary roadway or along the railroad track without performing its rail grinding operation.

The shaft 103 is oscillated by a sprocket wheel 108 driven by a chain 109. Secured to a shaft 110 is a sprocket pinion 111 which is the means for oscillating the wheel 108 through the instrumentality ofthe chain 109. Fastened to the shaft 110 is another sprocket wheel 112. The chain 113 passes around the' sprocket wheel 112 and is driven by a sprocket pinion 114, which is supported on frame 115. The frame 115 is secured to the side members 49 and 49 of the attachment, as at 116. The sprocket wheel 114 is fixed to the shaft 117, as at 118, and ythis shaft is rotated by the hand wheel 119. A dog 120, which engages the long link 99, to prevent its forward movement, is pivoted, as at 121, and is provided with a shoulder -or abutment 122 which engages an abutment or shoulder 123 -secured to the long link 99, when this link is in its rearward position. A foot lever 124 is pivoted to the frame 49, as at 125, and carries on its extended rear end a short link 126, which is secured to the rear end of the dog 120. l/Vhen the link 99 is in rearward position, as when the frame carrying the members 23 and 24 and the track wheels are lifted, the shoulder 122 of the dog engages the shoulder 123 of the link and thus holds the frame members in lifted position. To release the members and permit it to descendby the effect of gravity, pressure is applied to the end 124 of the foot lever whereupon the dog will be lifted so that its shoulder 122 will clear the shoulder 123, whereupon the link 99 will move into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, and the frame members 23 and 24 will, by the effect of gravity, move downwardly to their normal position.

A downwardly extending arm is secured to the sub-frame 90 and on its lower end carries a link 128, pivoted, as at 129, and eX-. 4tending forwardly for engagement with the fixed front axle 130, of the automobile, as at 131. Another similar arm 132 extends downwardly and is secured to the frame members 49 and 49', as at 133, and is provided with a bracket brace 134 secured to the frame members 49, as at '135. This strengthens the structure and helps to hold it in its proper position with relation to the chassis of the lautomobile.

In Figs/9 and 10 I have shown a relatively light flanged wheel 137, that may be Inadeentirely of metal and tracking on the rail of a railway road bed instead of the employment of the pneumatic tires, shown in the various figures in dotted lines in the drawings, four of which may be used and which are more adaptable for use with street railway construction where the roadbed comes even with the surface of the rails. In some .railway work, the wheels 137 may be better adapted for the use, in which event, they may be easily substituted for the ordinary pneumatic tired wheels and thel flanges on them are not so great as to prevent them from being able to travel over the relatively rough roadbed, at the time of leaving the track to avoid a passing train,.and at the time when the machine is being replaced thereon for its operative work. The wheels 137 are not essential in any case, but they may be used, as stated, to better advantage under some conditions of operation.

lIt will be readily understood, of course, i

that the automobile' to vwhich my grinding attachment is secured, is self-propelling and that it may move over the track by its own power and at the same time cause the grindingoperation between the abrading blocks and the upper tread surface of the rails.

The arrangement of the device is such bodiment of my invention for the purpose ofI clear disclosure it is manifest that many changes may be made in the general arrangement and configuration of the parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A device of the character described having in combinative association a selfpropelled vehicle provided with a pair of swiveling traction wheels; means carried by the said vehicle to grind the rails of a track and means for controlling said swiveling wheels to cause the vehicle driving means to remove the vehicle from the track.

2. In combination with an automobile 'having traction driving wheels of atrack grinding frame carried by the automobile, means to raise and lower the grinding means and means on the automobile to control direction of movement of the vehicle independent of the rails, when the frame is raised.

3. An attachment for a self-propelled vehicle having means to move itself from a track in combination a frame relatively immovable longitudinally with respect to the vehicle, carrying rail-tracking wheels; another, relatively. fixed frame; -a series of abrading blocks vertically movable and longitudinally movable in the latter frame and means to vertically move the blocks into contact with an underlying rail and to lift them clear of the rail.

4. An attachment fors a self-propelled vehicle having means to move itself from a track in combination a frame, carrying rail-tracking wheels; another, relatively fixed frame relatively immovable longitudinally with respect to the vehicle; a'series of abrading blocks vertically movable in the latter frame; means to move the blocks into contact with an underlying rail and to lift them clear of the rail and means to lower and raise'the first mentioned frame independently of the blocks.

5. In combination with a self propelling and self-guiding vehicle; an attachment for surfacing the tread face of railway rails,

'comprising a frame to be carried by the chassis frame of said vehicle and longitudinally fixed with respect thereto; a series of abradingblocks for surfacing each rail of a railway track movable longitudinally only v with the vehicle; and means for lifting said blocks from the track to permit said vehicle to move itself from the track.

6. In combination with a self propelling and self-guiding vehicle chassis; an attachment for surfacing the tread face of railway rails comprising a frame vto be carried by the chassis of said vehicle and longitudinally fixed with respect thereto; a series of abrading blocks for surfacing eachrail of a railway track vertically movable and longitudinally movable in said frame and means for lifting said blocks from the track to permit said vehicle to move itself from the track.

7;,In combination with-the chassis of a' frame fixed to said chassis; a vertically movable and longitudinally xed frame carried by the main frame and extending beyond each end of the chassis; flanged guide 4Wheels carried on said vertically movable frame; another frame, fixed to the main frame longitudinally; a series of abrading blocks vertically movable in the last mentioned frame and means for lifting both said vertically movable frames from the track to permit the said vehicle to be propelled independently of said attachment.;

8. In combination with a chassis of a self propelling and self-guiding vehicle; a rail grinding attachment comprising a main frame fixed thereto; a vertically movable and longitudinally fixed frame carried by the main frameand extending beyond each end of thev chassis; flanged guide wheels carried on said vertically movable frame; two other 'Iframes longitudinally fixed to the main frame, one on each side thereof; a'

series of abrading blocks vertically movable 1n the last mentioned frames, one in each,

and independent means forlifting each of said vertically movable frames from the track.

9. A track grinding machine having in combination a vehicle capable of self-propelled movement along the track and having means to vmove itself off ofthetrack, and

to surface the rail. i

10. A track grinding machine having in a grinding element movable with the vehicle combination a vehicle capable of self-propelled movement along a track and having means to move itself ofi' of the track; a grinding element longitudinally fixed with respect to the vehicle and movable therewith, to surface the rail and means to vertically move said elements into contact with vmovable with respect to lthe vehicle and means to raise said elements and said guide wheels to clear the track. In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name.

JAMES G. MCMICHAEL. 

